Textile Fiber Rim Spoke Structure for Impact-Resistant Wheels

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Solution Overview

Problem

Rigid rim spokes deform irreversibly under heavy impact, leading to weakened strength and safety issues, necessitating frequent maintenance and increased costs.

Innovation Solution

A rim spoke made of a flexible textile fiber rope with mounting heads and nipples, where the ends of the spoke rope are fixedly sleeved and adhered into mounting holes, and the mounting holes are tapered to ensure a secure connection, enhancing impact resistance and preventing nut loosening.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If rigid material spokes are used, then strength is improved, but the spoke deforms irreversibly under heavy impact

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvespoke strengthVSAvoidresistance to irreversible deformation
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the material parameter from rigid (metal) to flexible (textile fiber), transforming the spoke's mechanical properties. This allows the spoke to maintain high strength while gaining the ability to flex and absorb impact forces without irreversible deformation, directly resolving the contradiction between strength and resistance to deformation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses composite construction by braiding multiple textile fiber ropes together to form the spoke rope. This composite structure combines the strength of individual fibers with the flexibility of the braided configuration, enabling the spoke to withstand high tensions (6-8 kN) while maintaining flexibility to absorb impacts.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Reliability

If textile fiber spoke rope is used, then flexibility and impact buffering are improved, but tension bearing capacity must be increased

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveimpact buffering capacityVSAvoidtension bearing capacity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs composite materials by braiding multiple high-strength textile fiber ropes into a single spoke rope. This composite structure achieves both flexibility for impact buffering and high tension bearing capacity (6-8 kN), as the combined strength of multiple fibers exceeds that of traditional single-material spokes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the material parameters of the spoke rope to achieve superior mechanical properties. The textile fiber material is selected and processed to have both high tensile strength and flexibility, allowing the spoke to bear tensions of 6-8 kN while maintaining the ability to buffer impacts through elastic deformation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Ease of manufacture

If traditional rigid spokes are used, then manufacturing simplicity is maintained, but frequent maintenance is required

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemanufacturing simplicityVSAvoidmaintenance frequency
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSEase of repair

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the material parameter from rigid to flexible textile fiber, which fundamentally improves the spoke's durability and impact resistance. This material change reduces the frequency of maintenance and repairs while the manufacturing process remains relatively simple, involving braiding fibers and attaching ends to the wheel components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The flexible textile fiber spokes can withstand higher tensions (6-8 kN) without deformation, improving safety, reducing maintenance, and maintaining structural integrity under impact, while being environmentally friendly and lightweight.

Implementation Method 1

The pressing opening is configured to form a closed compact structure by means of an adhesive and pressing of a machine platform

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAdhesive: Adhesive

Implementation Method 2

each of the mounting holes is a tapered hole with an inner diameter increasing from inside to outside

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFriction: Friction

Implementation Method 3

the outer diameter of each of the mounting heads is in fit with a maximum inner diameter of the mounting hole

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMechanical interference:

Implementation Method 4

part of an impact force is cushioned due to the flexibility and strength margin of the spoke rope itself

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Implementation Method 5

the textile fiber spoke rope can still be kept under an extreme impact force without irreversible deformation

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectViscoelasticity: Viscoelasticity

Data Source

PatentEP4461558B1Rim spoke
Publication Date: 2026.01.28 XIAMEN HONGJI WEIYE INDUSTRIAL CO LTD
  • EP4461558B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4461558B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4461558B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A rim spoke, comprising a spoke rope and nipples. Mounting heads are fixedly sleeved on both ends of the spoke rope; through mounting holes are formed in the nipples; the nipples are fixedly sleeved on the mounting heads by means of the mounting holes; the spoke rope is made of a textile fiber material; when the textile fiber spoke rope is subjected to a violent impact in a high tension state, due to the flexibility and strength margin of the spoke rope itself, part of an impact force is cushioned, so that the original characteristics of the spoke rope can still be kept under an extreme impact force, without irreversible deformation, thereby reducing the riding failure rate, ensuring the riding safety, reducing the daily maintenance requirement of a wheel, and reducing costs.